They appear to have moved the goalposts since the start of the club's debut campaign in the Premier League, when the realistic consensus was that finishing 17th would be a triumph.

Chris Hughton's side have not fallen that far since their August baptism against Manchester City, Leicester and Watford, when they exhibited the understandable naivety associated with newcomers and a new-look squad.

Hughton (below) was not fooled by two away victories by early November and climbing inside the top ten.

He knew as the season wore on and the fixtures became even more demanding that it could not last.

Hence, throughout a one-win run of eight points from 39 ahead of the trip to Southampton - a sequence not dissimilar to that of the hosts and many others in the congested scrap for survival - his approach remained as calm and consistent as ever.

Albion returned from their trip along the south coast with a well-earned point from a solid display against an established top flight outfit that has recently drawn at St Mary's with Spurs and Arsenal and have not lost at home to anyone below 13th.

Not so, according to the VAR's. The gist of their complaint was that Albion sat back after taking the lead when they should have put a poor Southampton side - containing the likes of Ryan Bertrand and James Ward-Prowse - to the sword.

In their world of fantasy football - where they get to choose a forward line of Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar rather than (until January), Glenn Murray, Tomer Hemed and a largely unavailable Sam Baldock, there appears to be no opposition.

The response of Southampton, playing at home in a match they did not dare lose, was deemed irrelevant.

Attack, attack, attack - and win - was the message from the VAR's. Restricting Southampton to barely a chance and a lucky equaliser is simply not good enough.

This warped logic continued through to the invigorating victory at the Amex against West Ham.

This, claim the VAR's, was due to Hughton unlocking the chains, suddenly giving his players an attacking freedom to express themselves which did not previously exist.

Time to divorce the fantasy from the facts. Hughton picked the same team in the same formation in both games, apart from Anthony Knockaert (above) replacing Solly March on the right flank.

The only change from his Championship mantra of 4-4-2 and style of play home and away - which provoked few complaints when Albion were winning regularly - is to 4-4-1-1, with £3 million German Pascal Gross operating as an effective number ten.

Massive tick for Hughton and the recruitment team. Gross added his sixth assist and fifth goal against West Ham.

The manager has continued to play with two wingers, which hardly smacks of caution.

Of course Albion were more positive against West Ham than Southampton, the defensive line slightly higher.

The same difference can be applied to almost every team playing at home compared to away, unless you are blessed with the supreme quality of Pep Guardiola' runaway leaders, capable of imposing themselves irrespective of the setting.

The difference, as is often the case in the Premier League, was down to small details and moments, in particular the "world class" strike from Jose Izquierdo on the hour (the words of David Moyes) when it was 1-1 and an injury depleted West Ham had been in the ascendency at the end of the first half after levelling in eyecatching fashion through Javier Hernandez.

The VAR'S apply similar flawed logic to Albion's pointless record so far against the top six. Apparently they need to 'give it a go' against them - presumably as in the home thrashings by Liverpool and Chelsea.

Consider how Swansea achieved successive home wins against Liverpool and Arsenal.

The Welshmen beat Liverpool with a fortunate goal and an outstanding example of defensive organisation.

They defeated Arsenal with very little possession and a threat on the counter-attack, aided by catastrophic errors by the Gunners.

There is actually a valid argument that Hughton should be more defensive at home against the top sides, perhaps adding the energy of Beram Kayal (below) to the midfield mix in an attempt to limit the pockets of space top class talents exploit.

Fortunately, the VAR's are a tiny minority, obligingly emphasised by a regular moaner on Twitter.

He referred me to a poll on Northstandchat. It asked is Chris Hughton too negative?

Seventy-five per cent of respondents said yes. For context, that was 236 people, less than one per cent of the Albion support against West Ham.

That is fine and perfectly normal. It is all part of the emotional investment of being a supporter.

It does not endure, because they appreciate the bigger picture. That Albion are in their first season in the best, most competitive and most lucrative league in the world.

That it takes a few transfer windows and seasons to develop a squad to win enough games to reduce the danger of relegation.

That if the worst happened a sensible owner would keep faith - as Burnley did when they were relegated - with a manager with an exceptional track record, devoid of the kind of recurring failures which do not prevent others from being re-employed.

The VAR's are entitled to their opinion - but they are not worth taking seriously.

Ipsoregulated

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